Daily Check-In Service for Seniors
CheckRise texts your parent once a day at a time they choose, and a quick OK means they're fine. If they don't answer, we send a reminder, call their phone, then text and call up to five family contacts until someone confirms they're checking in.
- No app, works on any cell phone
- Up to 3 check-ins a day
- $1 for 7 days, then $14.99/mo
Cancel anytime. No contract, no equipment. US phone numbers only.
One text a day. Set up in about five minutes.
Most seniors already know how to reply to a text, so there is nothing new to learn. You can sign up for yourself or for a parent.
- 1
Pick a time (or three)
Choose when the daily text arrives, like 9:00 AM after breakfast. Add up to 3 check-ins a day, at least 4 hours apart.
- 2
Add the people who should know
Add up to 5 care circle contacts: children, a neighbor, a friend nearby. Each one confirms by replying YES to a text.
- 3
Reply to one text a day
The check-in is a normal text message. Reply OK, YES, or even "I'm fine". There is no app to install, no password, nothing to wear or charge.
- 4
Silence starts the safety net
No reply means a reminder, then a phone call, then your contacts are texted and called one by one until someone responds.
What happens when a check-in is missed
Here's the exact sequence for a 9:00 AM check-in. It stops the moment your parent replies or a contact confirms they're on it.
- 9:00 AM
Check-in text
"Time for your daily check-in! Reply YES or OK by 9:30 AM."
- 9:30 AM
Reminder text
A second text, in case the first one was missed.
- 10:00 AM
Automated phone call
We call the phone directly. Answering and pressing 1 counts as checking in.
- 10:15 AM
Care circle alert
Your first contact gets a text, then a call two minutes later. About every 15 to 20 minutes the next contact is alerted, until one of them confirms they are on it.
If nobody responds, we go through the list again, up to three times. Contacts only receive alerts after they've opted in, so a wrong number never sits silently on the list.
How CheckRise compares to other check-in options
Prices checked October 2026. We build CheckRise, so read this as informed, not neutral.
| Feature | CheckRise | Snug Safety | IAmFine | CheckinBee | Free state call programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you check in | Reply to a text | Tap a button in the app or call a toll-free line | Answer a call, text OK, or log in | Reply to a text | Answer a phone call |
| Smartphone needed? | No, any cell phone | App for the button; call line works on any phone | No | No | No |
| If a check-in is missed | Reminder, then a call, then contacts are texted and called | Contacts get a text (free); dispatcher calls on the paid plan | Call retries, then contacts notified | Contacts notified | Varies by program, usually a call to a contact or police |
| Check-ins per day | Up to 3 | 1 free, up to 3 with add-on | 1 to 2 | 1 ($13) or 3 ($20) | Usually 1 |
| Price | $1 for 7 days, then $14.99/mo | Free, or $19.99/mo for Dispatch | $14.99/mo or $120/yr | $13 to $20/mo | Free |
Want the full picture? Read our roundup of the best safety check-in apps, the guide to daily check-in apps for seniors, our list of free daily check-in programs by state, or the CheckRise vs. Snug Safety comparison.
A good fit if
- They live alone and want to stay in their own home
- They refuse a pendant or a "monitoring" device
- They use a basic phone and won't install apps
- Family lives far away or works all day
- You want family alerted within about 75 minutes, not days later
Not the right tool if
- You need automatic fall detection or a 911 button (pair us with a medical alert)
- You want GPS location tracking
- The only phone in the home is a landline
- They live outside the United States
Less than 50 cents a day. No contracts. No catches.
Medical alert systems charge $50–89/month, lock you into multi-year contracts, and hit you with $2,500+ cancellation fees.
CheckRise is $14.99/mo with a $1 trial — and you can cancel with one click.
What's included
Over 1,200 people trust CheckRise to check on them every day. Try it for $1 and give yourself the peace of mind today.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Common questions from families comparing check-in services for seniors
A daily check-in service contacts an older adult at the same time every day and asks them to confirm they are okay. If they do not respond, the service alerts family or friends so someone can call or stop by. CheckRise does this by text message, with a reminder and an automated phone call before any family member is alerted.
Dedicated services in the US cost roughly $13 to $20 a month. CheckRise is $1 for a 7-day trial, then $14.99 a month with up to 3 daily check-ins and 5 contacts. Some app-based options have free plans with fewer safeguards, and a few states and police departments run free daily call programs for residents.
No. CheckRise works on any cell phone that can receive text messages, including basic flip phones. There is nothing to download, and your parent never needs a password or account login.
Thirty minutes after the check-in text we send a reminder. At sixty minutes we place an automated phone call. If there is still no response, we text and then call each care circle contact in turn, roughly 15 to 20 minutes apart, until someone confirms they are checking in. If your parent replies OK later that day, the alerts stop.
Yes. Choose "for a loved one" at signup and enter their phone number. They receive a text explaining CheckRise and reply YES to start. You manage the schedule and contacts from your own account.
Some. Maryland's Senior Call Check places free automated calls to older residents, California's Friendship Line offers check-in calls, and many sheriff's offices and Area Agencies on Aging run similar programs locally. Our free check-in programs by state list has the details. Snug Safety has a free app plan. CheckRise is for families who want text-based check-ins anywhere in the US and a faster, multi-step alert to the people they choose.
No. A medical alert pendant calls for help when someone presses a button. A daily check-in notices when someone does not respond, which covers the times they cannot press anything. CheckRise does not contact 911, track location or detect falls, so some families use both.
Yes. Check-ins can be paused from the account dashboard and resumed when they are back home, so nobody gets an alert during a trip.
Don't wait for the call you're afraid of
It takes 60 seconds to set up. It works from day one. And you'll never have to wonder "are they okay?" again.
No contract · Cancel anytime · No app needed
